04 Jun 2020

The re-opening of liquor outlets has brought excitement to both retailers and consumers alike. 

Liquor outlets throughout Botswana opened on June 3 after a two-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Francistown Trans Cash & Carry Store Manager, Mr Oteng Tshotlo, said a lot of people, mostly bar owners, flocked the shop to buy beverages. 

He however said they had prepared well for their customers and followed all the COVID-19 health protocols to the letter, to ensure that their customers’ health was not compromised. 

Mr Tshotlo said the stoppage of alcohol sale amidst the outbreak of Coronavirus two months ago had a negative impact on their business. 

For her part, the outlet floor manager, Ms Charity Gaboiphiwe said although some customers were excited about the sale of alcohol, some had shown misgivings at the stipulated operating hours, which they felt would affect the sale of liquor at their own stores. 

She said although the liquor store’s closure negatively affected them, they managed to sustain the business with the COVID-19 relief food basket, an initiative that was undertaken by the government during the lockdown period to assist those affected. 

One of the employees at Area W liquor bars, Ms Olorato Tanyala said the closure was a huge challenge as it meant she could not afford to finance her side hustles such as metshelo. 

She also expressed concern about the operating times, explaining that they were not as beneficial to bar outlets as they were to wholesalers and others because more people would opt to purchase their beverages at those than bars. ENDS